Obama slams Russia's 'gay propaganda' legislation

August 07, 2013, 11:50 UTC+3US President says Russian government has "a big stake in making sure the Olympics work"

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NEW YORK, August 7 (Itar-Tass) - US President Barack Obama has slammed on the recently adopted law prohibiting gay propaganda among minors. During his appearance at "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno, American national leader expressed his hope it would not affect the 2014 Sochi Olympics; he said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian government have "a big stake in making sure the Olympics work." He suggested that the majority of countries participating in the international sporting event have “no patience for countries that try to treat gays and lesbians and transgendered persons in ways that intimidate them or are harmful to them.”

Obama declared: “I have been very clear that when it comes to universal rights, when it comes to people’s basic freedoms, that whether you’re discriminating on the basis of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation you are violating the basic morality that I think should transcend every country.”

Previously Vladimir Putin urged other countries to not intervene in Russia’s internal affairs, which include regulating activity of non-governmental organizations which received funding from overseas sources and which engage in political activity.

“We’re not talking about sanctions against homosexuality or against…you know what I mean. We’re talking about protecting children from corresponding information,” Putin explained, emphasizing that members of the LGBT community are “fully fledged members of society and are not discriminated against in any way.”